Laminectomy and facetectomy are two of the specific procedures often recommended for treating spinal narrowing by taking pressure off of a compressed spinal nerve. Patients experiencing chronic neck or back pain as a result of spinal stenosis – the narrowing of the nerve pathways in the spine – may be recommended to undergo a spine surgery if conservative treatment has not offered lasting pain relief.
Before you decide to move forward with a specific procedure or procedure, we recommend you research the full range of options available to you. This can help you have a more accurate picture of the risk and benefits of spine surgery. If you have any questions as you continue to consider treatments, we encourage you to reach out to the caring team at BEST Health System to receive more information to make the best decision for your spine care needs.
The Differences Between Laminectomy And Facetectomy
While these procedures can be combined to treat spinal stenosis, the approach taken during procedures is different and should be examined when deciding on the type of surgery that is right for you.
Laminectomy. A laminectomy is a procedure often recommended for patients with spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing of the nerve pathways in the spine. Historically, a laminectomy required the complete removal of the lamina – a vertebral bone that helps form the spinal canal. By removing this bone, the spinal cord would be given more room within the spinal canal.
Facetectomy. A facetectomy is similar to a laminectomy in that a portion of bone is removed from the spinal column to provide additional room to decompress affected nerves. The difference is that facetectomy involves the partial or complete removal of damaged facet joints in the spinal column. Since these joints are essential for movement and stability in the spine, additional surgical stabilization may be required.
Traditionally these procedures have required a highly invasive approach that involves a large incision, overnight hospitalization, and long recovery time. However, advances in medical technology and surgical techniques have allowed for the development of minimally invasive spine surgery that can be performed on an outpatient basis.
Alternatives To Traditional Open Back Surgery
Before you decide that traditional open back surgery is your best option, you should consider the safer and more effective alternatives provided by our team at BEST Health System. Our minimally invasive spine surgery treats spinal stenosis and other spine conditions with muscle-sparing techniques that allow for a less than 1-inch incision.
We are dedicated to helping patients find relief from chronic neck and back pain with our minimally invasive procedures. For more information, call our team today!
